Opinion & Analysis
Faldo’s ‘commercial’ dig at Rickie Fowler was narcissistic, unfair and hypocritical
This week, Rickie Fowler opened up on his current struggles on the course, describing the enormous frustration he’s going through and the toll it’s even taking on his life at home.
Instead of Fowler being commended for his honesty during the most challenging period of his career to date, he found himself attacked. Not just by some nameless, faceless troll on social media either, but by a six-time major winner turned talking head: Nick Faldo.
Replying to Golf Digest’s article on Fowler, the Englishman decided he’d take a swipe at Fowler’s commercial success, saying:
“Good news is if he misses the Masters he can shoot another six commercials that week!”
He then doubled down on the comment, highlighting his own excellent achievements in the sport while knocking Fowler who is still looking for his maiden major win, posting shortly after: “What would you rather have, a boatload of cash or your name in three green books?”
Had Faldo bothered to read the article in question, then he’d have seen that Fowler is extremely hungry and putting in hours of practice to get back to the heights that saw him once ranked inside the world’s top 5.
If Fowler was content to do commercials instead of grinding away on the course as Faldo suggests, why will this week at Bay Hill mark his 6th appearance in the last seven weeks on the PGA Tour?
That schedule just doesn’t fit Nick’s narrative that Fowler is satisfied with things in his professional life.
Sadly, Faldo’s dig at Rickie had nothing to do with his golf game, nor did it even acknowledge how hard he is trying to turn things around.
It was a petty knock at a universally well-liked player from his peers to fans alike because he happens to do well for himself outside of the course as well as on it.
And let’s not forget how good Fowler has been on it, five PGA Tour wins (including The Players), 2 European Tour wins, and 11 top-ten finishes at majors—and he’s still just 32.
All that the Englishman’s cheap shot at Fowler’s commercial success did was amplify the undercurrent of jealousy within Faldo, who spends the majority of his time on social media plugging and endorsing a golf shoe.
Does anyone really think that Faldo wouldn’t snap up Rickie’s commercial opportunities if they presented themselves to him?
To knock Fowler’s current level of play is fair game, but to suggest he’d be happy to miss the Masters so that he can “shoot another six commercials that week” is out of line and does a disservice to the effort he puts in each day to get better at his craft.
Fowler has demonstrated time and time again that he is a class act, an excellent ambassador for the sport, and he deserves much better than a blindsided attack on Twitter from a prominent figure in golf media.
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Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.
Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.
But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.
To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.
Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.
If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.
In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.
Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.
While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.
So, what about grooves and face texture?
Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.
Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.
But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?
The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.
So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.
And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.
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Golf's Perfect Imperfections
Golf’s Perfect Imperfections: Amazing Session with Performance Coach Savannah Meyer-Clement
In this week’s episode, we spent some time with performance coach Savannah Meyer-Clement who provides many useful insights that you’ll be able to implement on the golf course.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle
Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.
Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.
The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.
Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.
Past Winners at Harbour Town
- 2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
- 2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
- 2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
- 2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
- 2019: CT Pan (-12)
- 2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
- 2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
- 2016: Branden Grace (-9)
- 2015: Jim Furyk (-18)
In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).
Key Stats For Harbour Town
Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.
Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
- Tom Hoge (+1.27)
- Corey Conners (+1.16)
- Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
- Cameron Young (+0.93)
Good Drive %
The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.
Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds
- Brice Garnett (88.8%)
- Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
- Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
- Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
- Sepp Straka (+85.1%)
Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs
Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.
SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:
- Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
- Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
- Brian Harman (+1.89)
- Sungjae Im (+1.58)
4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)
Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.
SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds
- Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
- Taylor Moore (+1.02)
- Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
- Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
- Andrew Putnam (+0.83)
5. Greens in Regulation %
The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.
Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:
- Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
- Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
- Corey Conners (+69.0%)
- Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
- Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)
6. Course History
Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.
Course History over past 24 rounds:
- Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
- Cam Davis (+2.05)
- J.T. Poston (+1.69)
- Justin Rose (+1.68)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)
The RBC Heritage Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)
- Shane Lowry
- Russell Henley
- Scottie Scheffler
- Xander Schauffele
- Corey Conners
- Wyndham Clark
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Cameron Young
- Ludvig Aberg
2024 RBC Heritage Picks
Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)
With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.
Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).
Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.
Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)
I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.
The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.
Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)
Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.
Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.
Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)
Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.
In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.
Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.
Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)
When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.
Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.
Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.
Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)
This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.
Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.
Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.
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Paulo
Mar 9, 2021 at 12:03 am
Faldo won more than Rickie. He knows about how to win. I agree with him on this one
Connie
Mar 6, 2021 at 11:46 am
Nick Faldo doesn’t always need to say everything he is thinking, learn to edit.
Mean is never attractive.
Rickie is one of the nicest golfers, always supportive of his fellow players.
dttruman
Mar 6, 2021 at 6:14 am
I respect Faldo a lot for his accomplishments and I also commend him for his objective and sometimes humorous observations when he calls a tournament. But his recent remark about Ricky Fowler isn’t like him at all and I would expect something like that to come from Brandel Chamblee who’s criticism of others always seems to be low class.
juliette91
Mar 8, 2021 at 10:44 am
I like Faldo’s humor–most of the time–and actually thought what he said was funny. No idea how Fowler took those comments but there’s no doubt Fowler is likely the leading commercial success on tour. He’s well liked and emblematic of a younger generation than the one the choose your jet! ads are targeting. I was a vendor to the advertising industry and it’s all about the appeal of the ad–and if you can get someone who is universally loved by the public well then the ad doesn’t even have to be that good for the campaign to be successful.
There is a world of difference between the sense of humor here in the USA and in Europe. Just watch Tommy Fleetwood’s youtube sketches with other Euro pros. They really get after each other and like any real good humor there’s always a measure of reality. Fowler is struggling now and Fowler is on tv more than any other touring pro. He’s fair game.
chip75
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Faldo got slammed when he was having bad Sundays early in his career, he was slammed for changing his swing after a no.1 year and he was slammed for tinkering when playing well. He was saying the incentive to win was getting less and less as prize money increased decades ago. Was it mean what he said? that’s up to Rickie, he seems like a nice guy, so hopefully he’ll have an, “I’ll show them!” attitude. But some folks don’t get Faldo’s humour, it’s pretty dry, I don’t know his relationship with Fowler.
The other issue is the tremendous pressure the media puts on kids like Rickie, they’re always hailed as the “Next!” somebody, they’re never given a chance to bed in and are just lumped with enormous expectations, players progress differently.
Cdub
Mar 5, 2021 at 7:17 pm
Faldo has become a big donkey. Hope Mickelson kicks him out of the booth soon.
matt
Mar 6, 2021 at 12:44 pm
if zinger wasn’t even worse I’d agree.. but yes both need to go
Captain Obvious
Mar 6, 2021 at 3:14 pm
God.. Zinger is the worst. 100 times worse than Faldo. Saying things like that rough is lush, green, thick.. it’s gonna be hard to hit it out of there today.. he should do the hotels.com commercials instead of me.
Luke keefner
Mar 5, 2021 at 5:38 pm
When Fowler was voted most over rated player on tour, he promptly won the players. Maybe this is what he needs….
Jack
Mar 5, 2021 at 5:15 pm
Faldo is arrogant – so what he said is expected from someone like him.
On another note since, this is GOLFWRX, I think it is time Fowler leave Cobra and get retooled with one of the big boys. Clearly their equipment is not working well for him – should go rogue like many others and back to the Pro V1 too.
Rod
Mar 5, 2021 at 3:24 pm
Faldo should stick to pitching Squairz……
well actually he shouldn’t do that either
C Bowen
Mar 5, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Hey Gianni,
Your “commentary” is so typical of the “I got a trophy for just showing up” generation. Faldo was/is correct and my suggestion to you & Ricky: GROW A PAIR!!!
GMatt
Mar 5, 2021 at 1:45 pm
Well said… has anyone figured out if this hack even owns a set of golf clubs? Maybe he should be submitting his articles on another platform
benseattle
Mar 5, 2021 at 11:38 am
I’m certainly no Faldo fanatic (his insistence on relentless puns is fingernails on a chalkboard) but Lil’ Gianni’s horror at a wisecrack just shows that now even golf writers are demonstrating we’re all just as delicate as can be. Sure, Twitter is a cesspool of unthinking, fast-twitch, top-of-mind mistake-makers, but to spend time denouncing Nick for yet a harmless jab is an excursion into pure snowflake territory. Oh, and by the way, thanks to this oh-so-sensitive world we live in, Faldo has now apologized for merely pointing out that Fowler’s bank account vastly exceeds his accomplishments. But I suppose a tender golf scribe has to write about SOMETHING.
C Bowen
Mar 5, 2021 at 1:43 pm
100%
Robert Welsh
Mar 5, 2021 at 11:26 am
Mission accomplished for Faldo – getting people to notice him and talk about him, apparently ascribing to the “no such thing as bad publicity” mantra.
He is a lousy announcer, fond of saying what he does followed by the player doing the exact opposite and playing an excellent shot as a result. Instead of insight he provides worthless blather and so he has to say something spectacularly stupid to gain notice.
Same kind of modus operandi was seen when he tried to generate a tempest over Reed’s drop at Torrey. I play Torrey regularly and know that area just short and left of #10 well (unfortunately). Unless you are on the ground to see it, as were Reed’s playing partners and the Rules Official, you have no business making remarks like “the rest of the world is screaming at that one”.
Most successful pros make far more money with endorsements and commercials than they do in prize money, and it has been this way for a long time, so why the cheap shot at Fowler ?
To generate some publicity for himself at the expense of someone else, that’s why.
silver 76
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:17 am
Anybody who watches golf knows that Nick Faldo is a class “A” jerk!!! Yeah he is a Hypocritic A–Hole!!
drgolfaholic
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:13 am
Could serve as the best motivation that push RF out of his recent slump if he ignores it and continues working hard. Or RF can get caught in the unproductive back and forth spat
George Stevenson
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:13 am
Haaaa. We need more funny.
GMatt
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:02 am
Typical snowflake article, whether Faldo is a sick or not his comment was not only spot on, it was pretty funny. People get so butt hurt these days and can’t take criticism as it’s bullying….toughen up grow some balls. I like Rickie but you can’t argue he hasn’t done much other than winning The Player and a nice run of runner ups in majors
The Dude
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:17 am
Nailed it….
John
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:47 am
Faldo has never had any class. He proved that when he was sneaking behind a fellow professional’s back, having an affair with his wife. Thankfully, we don’t hear too much of him in the UK these days but, it’s clear from these comments that he hasn’t changed.
Gary
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:41 am
When I read narcissistic, hypocritical, and unfair I immediately thought this was a story about a GOP politician…
The dude
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:18 am
Fail….
Team America
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:42 am
Dirka..Durka… you win the internet for the day.
Joe Biden
Mar 5, 2021 at 12:57 pm
That’s just because you actually listen to what the liberal media has to say…. it’s called indoctrination bud
Avrm
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:29 am
Fowler’s financial return is grossly out of proportion to his relatively modest accomplishments. Faldo’s comment was spot on and a nice antidote to the media cheerleaders who have for years over hyped Fowler. We need more, not less, cynicism in media golf commentary.
Ron John Dupraine
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:25 am
Cancel culture….Don’t blame Faldo for sharing his opinion. He is entitled to it, and CBS pays him big bucks to give it. Also I’m a Rickie fan, and who cares what Rickie Fowler wants. Let him live his life, and decide what he wants…. if he wants something I’m sure he’ll give it his all…
Helen Cronin
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:19 am
Faldo is a jealous jerk he also had jealous comments about Tiger when Tiger was struggling. He is a jerk I do not like him as a sports commenter. He should be telling us how hard it is out there to make it instead of knocking the players. He thinks he was great but he had problems too out there. Ricki is a fan favorite and good for golf just like Tiger was, Faldo was not a fan favorite.
Dr Watson
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:30 am
Americans hate Faldo, Europeans love him. He has just as many fans as haters.
Jim
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:50 am
You couldn’t be more wrong. Apart from the English, pretty much no one in Europe cares for him. This is why he now does his pundit in the States. No one over here is interested in anything he has to say.
Bob
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:41 am
Fail
Ricki-is-overrated
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:08 am
So we have found the Fowler fan boy.
Rickie seems like a good kid, but let’s be honest, way over hyped and considering his struggles on the course lately, Faldo isn’t wrong. It’s not a good look.
TG
Mar 5, 2021 at 8:51 am
Faldo can’t be saying this if he’s shooting boat loads of commercials himself. What’s the difference? Rickie could tear down his broadcasting performance; perhaps Faldo would win more broadcasting awards if he wasn’t busy flogging crappy golf shoes?
GodShamgod
Mar 4, 2021 at 7:16 pm
Faldo is definitely a jerk for saying this and kicking a guy while he is down. Even the new nicer version of Faldo is still the same rotten person inside.
But that doesn’t menman he is wrong. Rickie definitely wants to win and succeed. But he also wants to milk his commercial opportunities. There is nothing wrong with that but sometimes it is tough to have both.
It is no coincidence that about half the winners since the new year have not been under an equipment contract. Some of it might be the ability to shop around but don’t underestimate the demands TM, Cway, Cobra etc put on a player. Maybe if Rickie stripped away, Cobra, Puma, Mercedes and State Farm he wouldnt be a thinly stretched.
Geoedgar
Mar 4, 2021 at 7:00 pm
Says the guy getting paid to tell us to buy new golf shoes that will give you extra distance?
BigGG
Mar 5, 2021 at 6:18 am
Say’s Faldo who has won a lot more majors.
Kuuchie Doochie
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:33 am
That is currently his job to give us opinions. CBS pays him a boatload…
Sir Nick
Mar 4, 2021 at 1:14 pm
This was pure sarcasm/dry wit from Faldo (and frankly he’s not wrong). Why does this writer take the position of staunchly defending Fowler’s underperforming career? Did he need to put 250 words together for an article and this was the way to go? I recently played golf for the first time in 3 months with a buddy of mine who never stopped playing during the winter. I beat him and said “man, you played all winter, I would have thought you’d have been better than that”. We laughed and had a beer because HE ISN”T SO DAMN SENSITIVE and can take a joke!
VPL
Mar 4, 2021 at 9:17 am
Sorry, Faldo wins on this one. The articles author is a complete moron making the statement that Faldo is jealous – he won 6 majors and who knows how many other events worldwide, Fowler couldn’t and won’t even carry Faldo’s bag in the history books. Too many players have allowed mediocrity to rule the day. Let’s not forget that very few players win majors, in fact I found that “454 majors have been played. A total of 225 different men have won majors and, of these, 83 have won at least two.” It is golfers themselves that have painted a picture of major wins being the standard by which they will be judged Like in any business, there is no shame in being a success without having become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. If you ask me Fowler spent a good part of his career developing a persona, using his off course life activities and his childish matching outfits as part of this persona. This brought him attention and endorsment money but he forgot to bring the game. Where did he think he was going in the era of Tiger and DJ? Those guys showed up with game first and took the other benefits later OK, he won The Players but does anyone remember any of the other four?, it’s not like they were “wins for the ages” Finally, never mistake popularity for talent.
David Landig
Mar 4, 2021 at 9:13 am
Typical pompous Faldo. I think his screensaver is a picture of himself.
Big GG
Mar 4, 2021 at 5:36 pm
Funny. Johnny Miller always said things like this. People like you never said a word.
Get Scoobie
Mar 4, 2021 at 9:46 pm
And Johnny Miller is no longer commentating.
Ron Hole
Mar 5, 2021 at 9:38 am
Miller was a pompous ass… face it, these guys are paid to give controversial opinions. Plus Faldo is and was better than Miller on the course, and in the booth..
Jim
Mar 5, 2021 at 10:44 am
This is accurate
K
Mar 4, 2021 at 8:17 am
As someone previously stated. Hopefully Faldo had good intentions trying to fire Rickie up.
If not it shows a complete lack of class on Faldos part. So what if Rickie doesnt make it to Augusta this year? In what universe does that have any effect on Faldos life? Even if Rickie misses The Masters and DOES go shoot 6 commercials so what? Rickie will get paid and with the way Rickie is im sure some charity out there will benefit from that.
Being a 3x past Masters champion and a bit of an ambassador to Augusta and The Masters it seems Nick would demonstrate a bit more class/respect when using their name. Could you imagine Mr. Ridley or any member throwing out comments such as this? Would NEVER happen
Mark
Mar 4, 2021 at 7:47 am
You have an excellent grasp of the twat that is Faldo.
If his ex-wives read this, they would be nodding in agreement.